Overview

• A 15-year-old girl was bitten by a sea lion during a junior lifeguard swim test on March 30 in Long Beach, California, near Ocean Boulevard and Cherry Avenue.
• The girl sustained bites and scratches to her arm and hand but did not require paramedic-level care, according to officials.
• The sea lion, spotted 25 yards from shore before the attack, showed no signs of illness but exhibited aggressive behavior, officials reported.
• This incident is linked to recurring toxic algal blooms producing domoic acid, a neurotoxin that causes erratic and dangerous behavior in marine mammals.
• The ongoing algal bloom has sickened over 140 sea lions and 50 dolphins, overwhelming rescue centers and raising public safety concerns for beachgoers.